Online providers let viewers connect to the creative process

The streaming video arms of both Netflix and Amazon are working hard to customize programming for potential viewers based on data mined from those viewers’ own usage patterns as well as soliciting direct feedback on content.

In the case of Netflix they already have several successes to point to by applying a mathematical approach to original programming including recent series of “House of Cards,” all 13 episodes of which were released simultaneously on Feb. 1. Based on user info about political thrillers, director David Fincher, and star Kevin Spacey — among other data points — Netflix figured the show had a good chance to succeed.